January 4, 2012 | ARLnow.com

Robbery Said to Be Motive in Diener Murder

Published January 4, 2012 at 4:35PM | Updated January 5, 2012 at 1:44AM

As ARLnow.com first reported yesterday, a suspect in the case, Roger K. Clark III, has pleaded guilty to first degree murder in the case. In a statement of facts entered as part of the guilty plea, prosecutors say robbery was the motive behind the murder — and that Clark wasn’t the only perpetrator.

According to the statement, Clark and his cousin, Javon Martin — then 20 and 24 years of age, respectively — were driving around Arlington County early on the morning of Dec. 29, 2009 looking for someone to rob. They encountered Diener, 57, near the intersection of N. 13th Street and N. Hudson Street, three blocks from the Clarendon Metro station. It was around 3:00 a.m. and Diener was on his way to a part-time job at a local health club, police said at the time.

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UPDATED: Missing Teen Couple Found in Fairfax County

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 2:45PM | Updated January 4, 2012 at 4:11PM

Earlier: Arlington County Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a teenage couple that have been missing since yesterday afternoon.

Police say Nathalie Benitah, 14, and Christian Manzano, 15, both left their Arlington homes around 4:00 p.m. yesterday. Christian called his parents around 7:00 last night, but the couple has otherwise not been seen or heard from since.

Around Town

Big Restaurant Shakeup at Pentagon Row

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 1:45PM | Updated January 4, 2012 at 2:31PM

Baja Fresh, located near the Harris Teeter grocery store, closed on Dec. 31, according to a note in the window. The restaurant’s main sign has already been taken down.

Baja Fresh will be replaced by Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, a fast-growing chain that’s also opening a location in Clarendon. The Pentagon Row Lime Fresh location is expected to open this spring, according to the Pentagon Row Facebook page. The Clarendon location, meanwhile, is now expected to open on Jan. 16.

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Candidate Is Running for County Board, Literally

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 12:30PM

Klingler’s campaign has scheduled a series of morning jogs with the candidate. The jogs are open to anyone interested in learning more about Klingler, a trained emergency medical technician and a certified personal trainer.

“Arlingtonians can start their new year off right and join Kim for a morning jog and discussion about how Arlington is doing as a County and how we can improve,” the campaign said in a press release. “This is an opportunity for those on the go to meet Kim, run with a group, and get to know different neighborhoods in Arlington.”

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Window Broken During Fight at Bob & Edith’s Diner

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 11:30AM

An early morning fight resulted in a broken door, a broken window and two arrests at Bob & Edith’s Diner on Columbia Pike over the weekend.

Police say Zachary Szabo, 23, assaulted Jamel Toms, 26, inside the restaurant around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31. Toms then “became disorderly, broke the restaurant door, and threw a glass sugar container at a plate glass window, shattering it,” according to the daily Arlington County police report.

Around Town

Best Cellars to Be Replaced By Spa

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 10:30AM

The store/spa is “coming soon” to 2855 Clarendon Boulevard, according to the company’s web site. The storefront was previously occupied by Best Cellars, which closed in July after seven years in business.

Bluemercury is noted for its limited but high quality product lineup and its state-of-the-art spa treatments. The company is based in the District.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 9:24AM

‘Bookhouse’ in Bluemont Profiled — The Washington Post profiles the Bookhouse, a rare book business in Bluemont run by Natalie Hughes, 80, and her husband Edward, 91. The couple say they plan to close the business — which features a collection of about 30,000 volumes — in a year or two. [Washington Post]

Board Declines to Appoint Tie-Breaker — The Arlington County Board, down to four members since Barbara Favola resigned on Dec. 31 to start her new career as a state Senator, has opted not to appoint a designated tie-breaker, as permitted by state law. Instead, measures that garner a 2-2 tie vote will simply fail. [Sun Gazette]

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Delays on Blue and Yellow Lines Due to Cracked Rail

By ARLnow.com

Published January 4, 2012 at 8:47AM | Updated June 29, 2018 at 3:26PM

A cracked Yellow Line rail, caused by the recent dramatic downward swing in temperatures, is forcing trains to use a single track near the Pentagon.

The track problem is causing 20-30 minutes delays on the Yellow Line and slight delays on the Blue Line, according to WMATA. As a result, Metro is advising customers to use the Blue Line instead of the Yellow.